Delaware Artificial Reef Sites (3/4) ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Delaware Artificial Reef Sites (3/4)

Delaware Artificial Reefs (and a few New Jersey reefs)

USS Blenny
Buchannon barge
Cape Henlopen Buoy
Golden Eagle
P3/Dolphin
pilot boat

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Rock & Rubble

All manner of concrete, steel, and stone rubble from dredging, demolition projects, and other construction is used as artificial reef materials. This material is generally available at very low cost or free from construction companies who are more than happy to get rid of it. Transportation costs determine where this material is used by the Reef Program.

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Sandy Point

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1947, Gulfport Shipbuilding, Port Arthur, TX, as Captain Chris Harms
Specs:: ( 85 ft )
Sunk:: Wednesday March 10, 2010 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.540' -74°43.957'

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Shearwater FS-411

USNS Shearwater reef — *Shearwater*, with *Tamaroa* behind

Type:: artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:: 1945, Hickinbotham Brothers, Stockton CA USA as FS-411 (US Army)
Specs:: ( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 tons
Sunk:: Dec 11, 2015 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.661' -74°30.607'
Depth:: 120 ft

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Southern Sword

Type:: shipwreck, freighter, USA, converted to barge
Built:: 1918, Globe Shipbuilding, Superior WI, as Contoocook, later Elda
Specs:: ( 251' x 43 ft ) 2344 gross tons
Sunk:: Monday March 18, 1946
foundered
GPS:: 38°36.769' -74°56.878' (DNREC)
Depth:: 60 ft

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Tamaroa WMEC-166

Type:: artificial reef, fleet tugboat, cutter
Built:: 1943, Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR, as USS Zuni AT-95
Specs:: ( 205 x 38 ft ) 1,235 tons (light)
Sunk:: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.144' -74°30.747'
Depth:: 125 ft

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TD-21 DPC-21

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1944, Lawley & Sons, Neponset MA, as DPC-21
Specs:: ( 86 x 24 ft ) 146 GT, 9 crew
Sunk:: Saturday June 22, 2024 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.427' -74°43.073'

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Texas Star

Type:: artificial reef, scallop dredge
Built:: 1977, Halter Marine, Lockport LA USA, as Southern Prince
Specs:: ( 156 x 39 ft ) 269 gross tons
Sunk:: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.494' -74°43.868'
Depth:: 85 ft

The Texas Star was built in 1977 on a multi-purpose supply ship hull, probably to service offshore oil platforms. The vessel was refitted as a floating casino in 1986, originally named Millionaire’s Casino, out of Savannah Georgia, but later moved to Texas and renamed Texas Star Casino. "The 12,000 square-foot vessel featured games such as craps, blackjack, roulette, poker and slot machines, with a bingo parlor situated on the nearby dock."

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Twin Capes

Type:: artificial reef, ferry
Built:: 1975, Todd Houston, Houston, TX
Specs:: ( 320 x 68 ft ) 2,139 tons
Sunk:: Friday, June 15, 2018 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°30.882' -74°30.848'
Depth:: 125 ft

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USS Blenny SS-324

Shipwreck USS Blenny — The *Blenny* as she appeared during World War II.

Type:: shipwreck, Balao ( modified Gato ) class submarine, U.S. Navy
Built:: 1944, Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT USA
Specs:: ( 312 x 27 ft ) 1810 tons, no crew
Sunk:: Wednesday June 7, 1989
"Africa Queen" artificial reef, Maryland
Depth:: 70 ft

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USS Arthur W Radford DD-968

USS Arthur W. Radford reef — *Radford* with an experimental stealth mast

Type:: artificial reef, Spruance-class destroyer, US Navy
Built:: 1975, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula MS USA
Specs:: ( 563 x 55 ft ) 8,040 tons
Sunk:: Wednesday, Aug 10, 2011 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°30.850' -74°30.656' originally, now ???
Depth:: 130 ft

More: USS Arthur W Radford DD-968 ...

Delaware Artificial Reef Sites

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Sea Raven

Hemitripterus americanus

Size
to 25" and 7 lbs.

Description:
The fleshy tabs around the head and ragged-looking dorsal fin are identifying characteristics of Scorpionfish like the Sea Raven. The eye is also very strange looking. These fishes prefer cooler waters and disappear when it warms up. Tropical and Pacific relatives including the introduced Lionfish have poisonous spines, but our species is harmless. Some people eat them, but I find them to be among the most interesting and obliging photo subjects in our waters.

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